Ted Conover Bücher

Cornelia Holfelder-von der Tann, geboren 1950, beschloss nach dem Studium (Anglistik, Germanistik, Romanistik) und einem Lehramtsreferendariat, es mit dem literarischen Übersetzen zu probieren und ist seither hauptberuflich dabeigeblieben. 2021 wurde sie mit dem Übersetzerpreis für langjähriges Übersetzen, «Rebekka», ausgezeichnet.

Wie prägen Straßen den Alltag von Menschen auf der ganzen Welt? Von dieser Frage hat sich Ted Conover auf einer spektakulären Reise über drei Kontinente leiten lassen. Er erkundet die Straßen durch den Urwald Perus, auf denen das Tropenholz für New Yorker Luxusappartements transportiert wird. Im indischen Ladakh wandert er mit Schulkindern über eine 'icy road' – einen zugefrorenen Gebirgsfluss – zur Schuledes nächstgelegenen Dorfes. In Nigeria begleitet er Rettungssanitäter bei ihren Einsätzen auf den gefürchteten Schnellstraßender Megacity Lagos, und in China erlebt er den rasanten Aufbruch des Milliardenstaates ins hochmobile Zeitalter. Eine faszinierende Reportage von enormer erzählerischer Wucht.

Exploring a rugged America, the narrative delves into the lives of those who choose to live off the grid, embracing independence amidst breathtaking landscapes. However, this lifestyle also brings challenges, including harsh weather, neighbors with questionable backgrounds, and limited access to government and healthcare services. The author, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, captures the complexities of this existence, highlighting both the allure and the harsh realities of such a life.

Ted Conover, author of Coyotes, spent a year as a prison guard at Sing Sing, New York's most troubled maximum-security facility. His account of that experience is a significant contribution to American journalism, shedding light on the nation's prison crisis and setting a new standard for in-depth reporting. At Sing Sing, once a model prison, Conover works as a gallery officer, supervising violent inner-city felons. He quickly realizes the challenges of adhering strictly to protocol. He grapples with the tension of impending fights, losing keys, and being physically attacked. Over time, he learns to navigate the delicate balance between leniency and authority that defines a good guard. Throughout his journey, Conover introduces a diverse cast of characters, including a tough supervisor named Mama Cradle, mentally ill inmates, flamboyant transvestites, and a philosophical inmate who highlights the troubling reality of future prisons being built for children as young as four. Conover also provides a historical overview of Sing Sing, detailing its origins and its role in capital punishment, offering a concise education on America's penal system. With empathy and insight, he reveals a harsh, hidden world, illustrating the conflict between the need to isolate criminals and the dehumanization that occurs within prison walls.

Exploring a marginalized segment of society, Ted Conover immerses himself in a world that many might find uninviting yet intriguing. His firsthand account reveals the lives and experiences of individuals living outside mainstream culture, offering readers a unique perspective on their challenges and realities. Through vivid storytelling, Conover invites curiosity and reflection on the complexities of human existence beyond societal norms.